(CNN) – Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords flew to Tucson Friday for the holiday weekend, marking her second return since leaving for rehabilitation in January.

"The congresswoman misses Tucson very much," said Pia Carusone, chief of staff for Giffords, in a statement. "This weekend will be a welcome respite from her rigorous schedule of therapy. It will be good for her to again be in the desert that she loves."
The Arizona congresswoman has been recovering in Houston after being shot in a mass shooting that left 13 injured and six others dead. Her husband, NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, lives in Houston with her.

Giffords made a surprise visit to Washington, D.C. on August 1 to vote on the debt bill. She also returned to Tucson in June for a two-day Father's Day visit with family. In May, she flew to Florida to watch the launch of the space shuttle Endeavor, commanded by her husband.

While her campaign has yet to announce whether Giffords will run for re-election in 2012, her staff has repeatedly said the congresswoman continues to improve in her recovery.